Councilors ask for improvements from potential casino development

Casino proponents assured councilors that the casino would not only generate jobs and support businesses, it could also include major community benefits like workforce education and training.

AUDITI GUHA

NEW BEDFORD — It has long been established that a casino would bring jobs to New Bedford. But far more than jobs can be ensured by a host community agreement that would be required before shovels hit the dirt, proponents told the City Council Monday night.

Andrew Stern, managing director and principal of casino developer KG Urban Enterprises and Steven Gallaway, principal at Gaming Market Advisors, assured councilors that the resort casino they are hoping to build on the waterfront would not only generate local jobs and tax benefits and support downtown businesses, it could also include major community benefits like workforce education and training.

Stern said discussions with Mayor Jon Mitchell "are limited at this time" but said former Mayor Scott Lang brought up several added improvements the city would like to see including developing more sports fields and renovating the old Orpheum Theater.

Mitchell could not be reached for comment late Monday.

Ward 1 Councilor James Oliveira, chairman of the Special Committee on Employment Opportunities called the meeting but "not to endorse or propose it," and specifically questioned the developer on what extra economic benefits the project could provide.

By Gallaway's estimation, the project could create more than 3,000 jobs in its first year and pay more than $428 million in wages.

"This development will be built by locals," he said.

Roger Brunelle, of Local 641, asked if the casino project would include a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) and if the company would allow employees to unionize.

"I can't imagine a project of this scale being created without a PLA," said Stern. He said he is "in no position to answer" the second part because it would be the decision of the casino operator.

"Once we engage the city, someone will be assigned to raise and work on these issues," he said

The completed casino would have 2,750 slots, 90 table games, a 300-room hotel and new harborwalk and be architecturally sensitive and in synergy with the city's historic downtown. It would gross more than $500 million annually and hire 92.5 percent of the people needed to work there locally, the proponents stated.

"It's very early in the process but the more forthcoming they are the better it will be," Brunelle said after the meeting. "So far, it's a good start."